Poll

Requirements for self-build serviced plots cold be onerous for LPAs and achieve little

Date: 4/3/2016

The government has proposed changes to the planning system to boost the number of self- and custom-built homes. But the measures could place new burdens on overstretched planning teams suggests Planning magazine.

The Planning Officers' Society (POS) fears the new requirements, particularly the provision of serviced plots, could be onerous for stretched local authority planning teams.

Mike Kiely, Chair of the Board at POS, told the Planning reporter that self-build housing tends to be low density, typically providing detached homes, and would do little to address the housing shortage. The government's aim of doubling the rate of self-build housing would only supply about 8 per cent of the roughly 250,000 new-build homes needed each year, Kiely says. "It's a significant burden for a relatively small contribution."